Living Owl

Intelligence

2009-08-09T11:55:07Z

Intelligence is something all human beings have, in varying quantities. So, do animals, and some would even argue, plants. There are volumes written and researched on this topic, to fill a local library to overflowing. But, the relationship between language and intelligence is the focus here.

]]> If intelligence is defined as the capacity to conceptualize the world inside and outside oneself, and effectively navigate and manipulate those worlds to one's advantage, I think we have a wise definition, if not a comprehensive one.

An otter has the ability to conceptualize its world and manipulate it to meet its needs. An otter uses rocks from the ocean floor as a hammer to crack open shells which it places on its tummy. We cannot know if the otter has anything akin to language in its brain to represent "rock" or "shellfish". We do know feral children (raised without human nurturing in the wild) are documented as having similar capacity as the otter to manipulate their world to meet their needs, though their exposure to language was minimal, if at all. However, the difference between a feral child and one raised with language in the context of a human society, is vast.

Language is a tool to represent, among other things, concepts which cannot be directly experienced by the senses. Compound interest on money cannot be directly experienced by the senses. It is a concept representing relationships of agreement of a mathematical nature, which stipulates the price of the future value and opportunity cost of lending money to someone else. Without language, compound interest as a concept, could not exist.

Language therefore, is integral to intelligence. The more adept one is with language, the more control one has over their relationship with the world around them, and the more benefit they can derive from that relationship. Using money as an example, again, consider the following.

I don't know what compound interest is. My friend asks me to loan them $100 for a year. Now, if my wish is to both help my friend and be fair to myself, I need to know about the future value of money, and opportunity cost of being without that $100 for a year. I can loan my friend the $100 for a year with the condition that they pay back $100 on or before 365 days have passed. That would make me a generous and helpful friend. But, not a very wise or smart one, again, if my goal is a win-win outcome for both of us.

During that year I am without my $100, I will have to forego investing that $100 and turning it into $110 at the end of the year, or, if I have need to borrow $100 from someone else to acquire something I need like a repair on my car, I will have to pay interest to the person I borrow from. And, if the inflation rate is 3%, the $100 I get back from my friend a year later will only buy $97 worth of goods and services ($100 less 3% or, $3.) Therefore, at the end of the year, when I get my $100 back, and if I have had to borrow $100 during the year at 12% interest, I will in reality, not be $100 wealthier, but only about $80 restored. The compound interest at 12% on my loan will have cost me $17 over the year, and the inflation of 3% will have cost me another $3. Loaning out a $100 bill and getting only $80 in buying power back at the end of the year, is neither wise, intelligent, nor a win-win situation for my friend and I. My friend wins, and I lose on this deal.

This example illustrates the power lost or gained by language, the tool needed to insure that this loan arrangement results in a positive benefit for both my friend and myself. If I don't know the math behind compounding interest, or the meaning of future value of money, or what opportunity cost means, I will not be able to engage in financial arrangements which benefit me, knowingly, or wisely.

Intelligence, is to a very large degree, dependent upon our language skills and breadth. I am brought to this topic my daughter's graduation from high school and finding her dictionary buried in her closet, even as she reads every night before going to sleep. Young people tend toward the easiest route from A to B. My daughter is no exception. She relies on osmosis too often for language learning. She can read science fiction and suspense novels, deriving the enjoyment of the author's story, even as she passes by those words and concepts which are new to her, and for which she has no definition in her head. It is the easiest route from page one to the last page of the book, and passing the time en route toward sleep.

But, she is neither expanding her vocabulary, nor increasing her intelligence to the potential the book would permit, were she to access her dictionary for words and concepts she does not explicitly understand. In passing over those words and concepts, she is in fact passing over opportunities to expand her intelligence, and control over her relationship with the world, presently, and into the future.

Now, to be fair, my daughter reads in bed, because it puts her to sleep. She is also capable of reading during the day and often did refer to her dictionary during her daytime reading, when in school. She has this notion however, that school's out for Summer. She could not be more wrong. Every day of life is either a captured or, wasted opportunity to learn. To expand one's intelligence by expanding one's precision with word definitions and concepts, is truly the gift one gives oneself, which keeps on giving throughout our lives.

Consider that the following are words, acronyms, and concepts which are shaping our world as I type, and ask, is the world passing me by, or, am I staying in control of my world by expanding my vocabulary and definitions so that I can have a say in what takes place in it?

DNA, RNA, bio-ethics, string theory, centralized vs. decentralized command structures, enlightened self-interest vs. selfish interest, cyber-crime, cybernetics, digital revolution, credit default swaps, hedge fund, comparative economics, and my favorites on this week's list, acupuncture and nerve induction.

Everywhere I turn these days, I hear folks brandishing words around which they clearly do not know the meaning of, as evidenced by the context and application to which they apply. Words like socialist, fascist, capitalist, racist, liberal, conservative, doctrine, empirical, logic, rational, reason, are all used daily in America between Americans, and yet, more than half of those brandishing such words, if asked to define them, could not do so with any accuracy or precision.

Is it wise for any nation or people who aspire to self-determination of their fate, to engage in repeated displays of what they don't know, while pretending to themselves and others, that they do? If there is only one great thing I accomplish this year, it will be to motivate my daughter to carry a pocket dictionary with her, wherever she may find herself reading, anything.

Intelligence is something we all have in varying amounts. Intelligence is something we can all acquire more of, if we expand our vocabulary and mental dictionary of concepts. Intelligence is something one cannot have in excess.

Intelligence depends upon language in modern society. Intelligence is not wisdom. But, it is unwise to pass up opportunities to become more intelligent by becoming better skilled with the primary tool of intelligence, language. Looking up words and their definition is actually fun and an empowering exercise which takes but seconds at a time. Make it a habit, and increasing one's intelligence becomes second nature.

Risk and Money Management

2009-07-28T21:23:11Z

Handling money is inherently risky business. To even have money on one's person with other's knowing it, is a risk, in and of itself. Money is a transmitter of germs and viruses, unless its new coming out of the vault of a bank. Keeping money under a mattress or cookie jar, except in small amounts, is terribly risky. Failing to earn interest on money reduces your money's purchase power in times of inflation. But, these aren't the risks I am talking about here. All investments of money carry a risk. That is the risk discussed here.

]]> Millions of Americans believed purchasing a home was the safest risk for their money, only to have their investment shrink and lose them money, in many cases, substantially so. We have seen banks fail, and were it not for the FDIC or bailouts, 10's of millions of Americans would have lost all or substantial portions of their investments and savings.

Ultimately, even relying on the FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, insuring bank and saving's depositors up to $250,000, is not without risk going forward. With America's national debt growing by leaps and bounds, more than doubling since 2000, the risk of government default on its debt obligations grows large as time passes.

The days of parking one's money somewhere in an investment and forgetting about it until retirement, are over. And they are unlikely to return in our life times. A global economic depression of unprecedented proportions was narrowly averted last Fall. It is an indication of the new era of globalization and the global risks of money management and investments.

It would however, be unwise to park one's money under the mattress. Inflation looms as the next big crisis after the coming commercial real estate one has come and gone. During inflation, the purchasing power of a dollar diminishes by percentages each year. That 10 dollar bill under the mattress may only buy $6 dollars worth of goods 10 years from now.

The wise investor today must be vigilant to the changing circumstances of investment options. Individual's lacking such vigilance either willfully or due to lack of education on the topic, would be wise to secure the services of a cost effective but competent investment adviser. Dare I say it, one should do one's level best to avoid the Bernie Madoff's in the investment world. The old maxim still holds true, if it sounds to good to be true, it very likely is.

There simply is no substitute for education on the topic however, as a hedge against the risks of investing. It appears the recession in America has bottomed out, and modest fits and starts of growth in our economy lie on the near term horizon (next 3 to 5 years). This would indicate that investments in stocks of major corporations whose earnings and sales revenues will be enhanced by a recovering economy, would be a wise option.

But, remember that the global economy is a very complex system with an enormous number of very large players, any few of which as nations or international corporations could spell trouble for the whole world economy. So, it is wise to remain vigilant, or higher a trusted competent person to remain vigilant for you.

This writer is not involved in the investing industry nor licensed as an investment counselor. But, one does not have to be an expert in anything to be wise about managing their 401K or investments. Only knowledgeable of current economic and investment risks and ways of managing those risks in general. Anyone with a high school education can become wise about the management of their own money. They need only know what they know and what they don't, and be willing to find a trusted person to help them with they don't know. Managing money is all about managing risk.

Use your browser's search bar to research your preferred investment vehicle, with the word "beginner" attached. Example: '401K beginner'. This is an excellent place to begin to become a wise manager of your money. Select those internet articles, magazine articles, or books which appear to match your understanding and reading level, and grow from there. Reaching the mountain top always begins with a first step at the bottom (unless you own a helicopter :-)

Expertise may require a Ph.D. Wisdom does not.

Integrity - A rare commodity

2009-07-21T15:55:42Z

Integrity is an extremely difficult state to achieve. Money can't buy it, influence can't pedal it, and we are all born without it. We hear the word bantered about a lot, especially in political circles. But, few people today, know what the word means when applied to a person. Often the word is used to describe someone we like. But, liking someone is not the definition of integrity. It is wise to understand what this concept is; and wiser still to seek its achievement in oneself.

]]> Integrity has been explained by many throughout the centuries. It's origin however comes from the noun "integer", or 'whole number' (as opposed to a fraction), first recorded in 1571. To be whole is to be unfractured, without fraction, or to be in a state without missing or conflicting parts. OK. That's a beginning to understanding integrity.

Let's look at some quotes on the subject.

Wisdom is knowing what to do next; virtue is doing it. ~David Star Jordan, The Philosophy of Despair

Character is doing the right thing when nobody's looking. There are too many people who think that the only thing that's right is to get by, and the only thing that's wrong is to get caught. ~J.C. Watts

If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don't have integrity, nothing else matters. ~Alan Simpson

Character is much easier kept than recovered. ~Thomas Paine

Laws control the lesser man. Right conduct controls the greater one. ~Chinese Proverb

Never let your sense of morals prevent you from doing what's right. ~Isaac Asimov

To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man. ~William Shakespeare, Hamlet

Dignity consists not in possessing honors, but in the consciousness that we deserve them. ~Aristotle

You can out-distance that which is running after you, but not what is running inside you. ~Rwandan Proverb

As the quotes above indicate, the concept of integrity reaches across nations, and across civilizations, and across time in human history. All these quotes refer in one fashion or another, to the idea that one first has endeavored to learn right from wrong, that one holds in high value their own judgment of their actions as having been right, and that one's principles of right are acted upon regardless of the presence of onlookers.

But, integrity is more than even this. At the heart of Integrity lies the state of being of not being in conflict with oneself. And this is key. If one says one thing, and does another, one cannot be said to have integrity. If one has committed wrongs which one cannot forgive oneself for, one does not have integrity. A person of integrity can, and will, forgive their own past wrongs, if they acquire the knowledge that they are no longer capable of such wrong going forward.

We all are born with wants, needs, and desires. Wisdom and integrity come from learning how to refuse those which would lead to wrong action, and to fulfill those which can be, through right action. In other words, where doing the right thing will get one what one wants, needs, or desires, one will do the right thing. And where doing the wrong thing to obtain what one wants is the only path to it, a person with integrity will deny themselves. Integrity does not come freely. It is an aware, educated, and conscious choice of action in all things one permits oneself to engage in.

The two most poignant quotes which are my favorites are:

We grow with years more fragile in body, but morally stouter, and can throw off the chill of a bad conscience almost at once. ~Logan Pearsall Smith

Better keep yourself clean and bright; you are the window through which you must see the world. ~George Bernard Shaw

Smith's quote points the way for those with a guilty conscience to free themselves of it, by becoming persons of integrity. Therein lies salvation for us all who, as humans, have erred and deliberately wronged ourselves or others.

Shaw's quotation points to incredible psychological insight that how we view depends very much on how we have acted in it. If we become a thief, we are aware of, and therefore, constantly fearful of, everyone else being a thief as well. We trust no one, because we know we ourselves, our not trustworthy. And if one cannot trust oneself, who can one trust?

To be wise is to know the right thing to do. To have integrity, one must do the wise thing, even when no one else may ever know one did, or didn't. Integrity is a difficult thing to achieve. But, it is worth achieving, even if the apparent cost of achieving it is high. The reward will always be higher, because the reward was never the motive; the right thing was its own motive.

(The Universe photo represents integrity on a grand scale. Courtesy of NASA Hubble images.)

Measure Twice, Cut Once

2009-07-19T15:21:12Z

This is a maxim in the carpentry industry that has been around a very long time, and for good reason. Carpenters would not long keep their jobs by wasting materials and money resulting from an error in measuring, and transferring those measurements to the material to be cut. Thus, the wise rule: take the time to measure and mark, and then do it again, to make double sure. It is a rule we will all benefit from in making decisions in our daily lives.

]]> The human brain, regardless of how intelligent or educated, is prone to error. An enormous amount of research has gone into understanding why human decision making is prone to flaws. And the reasons for flawed decision making are numerous. They range from distraction interrupting the decision process to bio chemical exchanges in the brain resulting from myriad factors such as diet, sleep, and age.

But, the most prevalent cause of faulty decision making is assumption. Assuming we know something that, in reality, proves to be untrue or unreliable. How often have we heard the phrase immediately following a mistake: "But, I thought..." Which is a cover up. It is not what we thought that caused the error, it is what we assumed we knew.

The faulty thought is often the byproduct of an assumption which was not verified for accuracy. This is why, in carpentry, one never relies on one's memory for measurements. One writes the measurement down, immediately upon taking the measurement. Transfers it to the material to be cut. And then goes back and measures again to verify the numbers on the material match the measurement by measuring again. It is a fool proof course of action.

A wise person will question their assumptions as a routine exercise in living. A wise person is a curious person, seeking the truth, or reality, underlying what they think they know, as a way of going about each day's living. A wise person measures twice, and cuts their decision, once.

Just as important, a wise person coming across what appears to be the same situation again, will not assume it is the same. Instead, they will take a brief period to reexamine whether or not this apparent similar situation, is in fact, the same as a previous one. Sometimes, even the slightest of differences, can warrant a different decision.

Sounds like a lot of extra work. But, correcting mistakes in our decision making is nearly always more costly and time consuming, than taking the steps to make sure the first decision was the right one.

TV: Is it Wise?

2009-06-17T18:17:34Z

The idea of watching others live life, instead of living one's own, lies at the core of most TV programming. Worse, it is watching actors pretend to live the lives of others whom they have never met or known personally; and in most cases never really existed. TV is enormously entertaining and addictive. So is cocaine or methamphetamine.

]]> First, allow me to say, down time, or rest, is something we all need to remain healthy. Coming home from work and lying on the couch or easy chair and catching a half hour of 'Weeds' or, 'All in the Family', or 'David Letterman', can be restful. Four hours of the same just before retiring to bed on a daily basis is sloth, and arguably very unhealthy, for body, mind, and soul.

Most would agree that there is a difference between wise use of TV programming and lazy use of TV programming. Agreement would be harder to find in defining just what programming constitutes wise TV watching from lazy. Do you make wise use of your TV? Most of the time, some of the time, or rarely?

A friend once said to me, "If you are spending more than an hour a day on average watching TV you are losing valuable life experience." At the time, and still today, I don't agree with the arbitrary 1 hour provision in her statement. But, then as now, I recognize the wisdom of what she said, and incorporate that wisdom into my daily routine, by insuring my TV programming centers on science, news, or history programming for the most part.

There are days when I watch no TV at all. Other days may find me watching as much as 4 hours in a day, a movie and news, science, or history programming. What struck me as so wise about my friend's admonition was that TV, like every other action in our lives, should have a conscious purpose: a deliberated need fulfilled by the activity. TV, like cocaine or methamphetamine, can very easily become an addicted way of passing time en route to death. A wise person seeks to achieve something more than this before their end.

According to the A.C. Nielsen Co., the average American watches more than 4 hours of TV each day (or 28 hours/week, or 2 months of nonstop TV-watching per year). In a 65-year life, that person will have spent 9 years glued to the tube. What could you or I accomplish with nine extra years of life? 9 Years is two Ph.D's, a medical doctor education, the time it took me to build a two story house with my own hands and tools, all by my lonesome.

Surely, no Living Owl would advocate spending 9 years of one's life in front of the TV as a wise use of one's time. Perhaps all us wise owls should reevaluate how we could better use our time spent in front of the TV.

Head Space

2009-06-16T03:05:09Z

Americans need head space. Not all, just most. And a great number of Americans do in fact, create head space for themselves. I would venture, however, that most do not. Oh! What is head space? Well, glad you asked.

]]> There are many synonyms for head space, but, they all fall short of a prescription for everyone. Some synonyms include: serenity, quiet time, reflection, focus, and solitude.

Head space as I refer to it, is time and absence of distraction to pursue an enjoyable solitary mental state, ranging from reading a satisfying book to a full-blown Zen state of emptying the mind and allowing the thoughts, the environment, and emotions to pass through one's mind without grasping at them, manipulating them, or pushing them in any particular direction.

One of my favorite Head Spaces is sitting alone, quietly, out in my yard just after sunrise, before the clouds yield to the sun's heat, and letting the morning occur around me and through me. Bird and squirrel sounds, distant traffic, the cool morning breeze, the sway of trees and flowers, the contrails through the parting clouds, and more, I am aware of. But I am aware of the surroundings without inquiry, without judgment, without lingering attendance. It is immensely satisfying. My dogs often settle next to me on these mornings and share the head space with me and I with them.

Our lives in America are a mass of todo lists, too often cluttering our minds, confusing our choices and emotions, and draining our energy and motivation. These mental 'gotta-do' lists have a way of preventing us from truly relaxing and experiencing our awesome ability to bear witness to our universe in ways which, may be unique to our species in all the universe. It is an incredible gift, human life, and the ability to witness it as well as live it.

I was 15 in Detroit when I walked passed a disheveled elderly homeless man sitting on the sidewalk, his back resting against an office building wall. As I passed, he said to me, "Beautiful day, isn't it?" The way he asked that question begged no reply, no quarter or dollar, nothing at all. He seemed to say it as an exclamation whose time had come coincidentally as I happened to be walking by.

I don't remember if I responded to him or not. I do remember I kept walking. But, that memory of his words and demeanor is as vivid in my mind today after 40 years, as if it were yesterday. The man was obviously poor, probably an unemployed drunk who had not bathed or changed clothes in weeks. But, he was, at that moment, reveling in being alive and taking in the day as it went by him. He shared something with me that I carry with me even yet. And I recreate his moment as mine on a regular basis.

It's free. Only requires 15 to 30 minutes, and a space without intrusive demands upon one's body, behavior, or mind. For me, head space is literally a vacation. And as rewarding, even for just 30 minutes, as a week's stay in Yellowstone or Big Bend National Park.

I have known folks who derive the same benefit from working mathematical equations which were not apparent as solutions just moments before. Some have called these Eureka moments. I call them epiphanies. Others have said becoming deeply engrossed in a great science fiction novel like Frank Herbert's Dune represents some of the most enjoyable time they spend in their lives. It is that singular focus working an equation or reading a great book, that is akin to the Zen focus on nothing/everything, at all.

Life gives one warnings that one is in need of head space. Barking at a loved one and regretting it, flipping an angry finger at a driver going to slow, or coming home too tired to eat or sleep, are all warning signs that one needs some head space. Some time to refill oneself with an awareness of the joy of being alive, being human, being here and now. It is an awareness one can take back into life with loved ones, on the road with slower drivers, and to work to help keep oneself elevated and energetic.

No credit cards required. No draining the savings account needed. No other persons on the face of the earth wanted. Just a space where intrusions are not permitted or unlikely, and an open mind to being alive and life unfolding around one. Head space is like recharging the batteries of one's soul. America is a fast paced culture, a loud and often vulgar culture, and one in which intrusions are treated as a birthright. To counter the draining effects, we all need to find our own head space and vacate to it regularly to reaffirm that life is the greatest gift in the universe and we were chosen to receive it.

Tracking Money is Wise

2009-06-11T12:45:25Z

Control of one's money requires first knowing, in detail, where it is going. There is a reason every successful business, large or small, tracks to the penny, their incoming and outgoing dollars, and actually look at the categories frequently, that are consuming their greenbacks. Today, with a personal computer, tracking personal income, even a teen's part-time income and where it goes, is very easy and cheap, or free.

]]> Quicken and Money Plus are readily available and are the market share leaders for money management software. However, alternatives exist which range from free (GNUCash), to just under $50, which can give a single wage earner all they need to track and stay on top of their money, budget, and savings plan, making it a very easy and even addictive process after initial setup.

If you aren't reviewing where your money was spent on a monthly basis, if you aren't budgeting the cash in your pocket or wallet on a weekly basis, if you aren't reviewing at the end of each year how much you took in, and where it all went, you are not in control of your money; nor are you in control of your future. Getting control of your money and realizing your wish lists and goals in life begins with software that reports back to you everything you want, and need to know about how your money is slipping away from you.

One person reported kicking the StarBuck's addiction after doing their first annual report in Quicken and discovering they had spent $782 dollars on coffee over the last 12 months. When the person realized they had gone without needed dental work for lack of the $550 deductible and co-pays it would require, they realized they weren't spending their money wisely. Their money tracking software got them their dental work in just months by showing them that buying a thermos, making coffee and a sandwich at home to take to work, would pay for the dental work.

Do not say, "I should do that."

Do it. Do it now. You will be the wiser and better off for it.

Quotes: Personal money management:

"Most people are willing to pay more to be amused than to be educated." -Anonymous

"Money is better than poverty, if only for financial reasons. " -Woody Allen

"You can't have everything. Where would you put it?" -Steven Wright

"Money, it turned out, was exactly like sex. You thought of nothing else if you didn't have it and thought of other things if you did." -James Baldwin

"The more horse sense a fellow has, the less he bets on them." -Kin Hubbard

"To be upset over what yo don't have is to waste what you do have." -Unknown

"Success is getting what you want. Happiness is liking what you get." -H. Jackson Brown

"Bargain stores are where I go broke saving money." -D. R. Remer

Wise Voting?

2009-06-11T00:00:06Z

In a democracy, is there such a thing as wise voting? And if there were, wouldn't a majority of voters vote accordingly?

The answers are, Yes and No, respectively. Here's why.

]]> If the objective of voting in a democracy is to elect government which most voters can approve of, why are Americans' approval ratings for Congress historically in the dumps? Either the objective is false, or voters do not vote wisely. Since, most voters would agree with the objective of voting as stated above, we have to answer why a majority of voters do not vote wisely.

What constitutes a wise vote? Voting for campaign promises, or voting for government results? Many things influence how voters vote, but the incumbency advantage (PDF) for reelection cannot be overlooked, nor the fact that the cost of campaigns have risen dramatically over the last several decades in advertising frenzies. Has voting based on campaign promises and rhetoric produced government, whose results are approved of by a majority of the public? Polling says, clearly not.

A wise vote then, would appear to be one in which the voter votes based on results of tenure in office, all other things being equal. If voters, for example, disapprove of the way Congress is handling national government, why are 90% and more of incumbents seeking reelection, voted back into office? The answer is, voters are not voting wisely.

Consider this: If the people did not have the vote, wouldn't most politicians in government remain in office indefinitely or, at least, for very long tenures in government? History demonstrates that power to govern is highly prized by those in power. They will insure they remain in power if the issue is left up to them.

This was precisely the thinking of the Founding Fathers in America, who, having witnessed the corruption and overreach of power by a King in England, whose term as King was for life, decided to create a government in which voting for those to be in power would become the standard. What voters today seem to fail to understand is, the power to vote for those in government, is in actuality, the power to remove those in power from office, by voting for a challenger instead.

Therein lies the power of the vote, and the power of the people, if they were to ever wisely choose to exercise it as a majority. The power to remove politicians from office is the real power of the vote. The politicians in America have invented all manner of law and regulations from gerrymandering to ballot qualification regulations designed for one express purpose, to help insure as far as possible, their reelection. This is as true of the two parties in control of government as individual Congress persons.

They tirelessly attempt to insure they remain in power, regardless of whether the majority of voters approve of Congress' efforts, or not. They work to appease large vocal special interest groups capable of supporting their reelection. And they have been remarkably successful at this. In the last election, the public's approval rating of Congress was at its lowest in history. An 11% approval rating, and 95% of those seeking reelection in Congress, were reelected.

If the American people want Congress to act differently, they must vote to remove a majority of those in Congress who are responsible for the way Congress has been acting. Voting for the same people in Congress is not going to change the direction of Congress' actions. If American voters suddenly voted as a majority wisely, to replace half or more of Congress' incumbents, the new politicians being voted in could not avoid the understanding that they too will not be reelected if the results of Congress do not change during their term in office. That is the wise lesson a wise voting public could impart to their representatives in Washington D.C.

So, to the question: "In a democracy, Is there such a thing as wise voting?", the answer is Yes, even when much of the voting public is ignorant of the nation's current events (PDF).

To the question: "And if there were, wouldn't a majority of voters vote accordingly?", the answer is no, not necessarily. It depends on whether voters believe their representative's campaign promises and rhetoric, fabricated for ONLY one purpose, to get reelected, or not.

If on the other hand, the majority of voters looked at the results of government and disapproved, and chose on that basis alone to vote for a challenger instead of their incumbent running for reelection, then, and only then, would a majority of voters be empowered to vote wisely, for a better government than the one they disapprove of in the polls.

I for one, do not approve of the results of Congress. I for one, will not vote for my representatives seeking reelection, regardless of party. Even if they were well intended, they were ineffective in altering the course of Congress. Instead I will vote for a challenger in the primary from my own party instead. I for one, cannot make a difference in the outcome of national elections. I, as one amongst many, choosing to vote wisely in this way, can change results of government by Congress.

I for one am encouraging all my friends and family to consider voting wisely from now on. How about you?

Composting is Wise

2009-06-08T06:14:25Z

Composting organic vegetable wastes from your kitchen and yard makes sense if you have a lawn, vegetable, or flower garden at your home. Compost is the single most productive element you can blend into your lawn or garden's soil in the Spring and Fall. Why waste it by throwing it in the trash? The only reason that is logical is that one does not have time to tend a compost bin or pile. But, we are talking 20 minutes a week here.

]]> The dos and don'ts of composting can be viewed at VegWeb.com's site. Following are wise tips and rationale for composting.

Why composting is wise?

It's free. It's actually less than free, it saves money. By recycling those corn cobs and spoiled vegetables and fruits, one is recapturing some of the cost of having purchased these items, even if one doesn't get to eat them initially. Adding home made compost means purchasing less fertilizer and turf builder for lawns and flower beds at your home. Finally, it means less garbage being hauled off for a fee. If half of all homes in America composted their vegetable wastes, garbage collection demand would drop significantly enough to lower the cost by a small amount for garbage collection and disposal across the nation.
Composting is very healthy for flowers and other living vegetable things. It improves aeration in the soil, allowing plant roots to breathe, opens the soil and feeds earth worms who add their own compost and aeration to the soil. It fertilizes the soil in a very PH neutral way.
Composting is easy, once you have your compost site in place. (See below)

Compost materials must be protected from rodents, and other garbage divers. There are many compost designs commercially available for between $100 and $450. But, if that sounds high, and it is, about $24 of materials from your local hardware and 2 hours of your time can create a compost bin that will last for years, out of wire mesh, and 1.5 inch PVC pipe.

Essentially, all you need is a box frame (pipe) 3 feet high, 3 feet deep, and 3 feet wide, covered with a wire mesh screen that will keep rodents out, and the compost in (holes in wire mesh about 3/4" square). You can use clothes hanger or some other wire to attach the screen to the PVC pipes. The last element is a lid of some kind, 4'x4' plywood sheet will do, to fit over the 3'x3'x3' box to keep overhead driving rain from washing out your compost pile.

You will need one side of the box to open left or right, to give you access to turn your compost pile once a week. In other words, you will want to hinge one side (use loops of clothes hanger wire) on one side, and another loop on the other side to act as a latch to hold it closed. Using a shovel, you will turn the pile once a week or so, bringing the bottom of the compost pile to the top, and turning the top layer under, then lightly watering. This is essential, as the composting process requires oxygen and some moisture to compost quickly, about 4-6 weeks.

You can read the complete details in the link above. I have been composting for years, and have never experienced any problems, and there is no question, that my landscaping plants receiving compost 3 times a year, fare far better than those that don't. And we maximize our grocery shopping dollar by insuring nothing goes to waste, not nut shells, corn husks, or broccoli stems. Even our pet's hair from brushing goes in and becomes enrichment for our vegetable and flower gardens. Piece of cake.

Your questions or comments are welcome.

American Education Conflict

2009-06-07T06:39:52Z

What an incredibly controversial topic education is in America. Any attempt to discuss education in a public forum usually devolves into debate and heated contention. The reason is that a great many Americans don't trust others to educate their children, and many a school personnel are witness to some horrible parenting at home.

]]> Parents are very limited teachers, incapable of being versed in the myriad topics and specialized knowledge that young people must learn if they are to maximize their opportunities and talents in our complex society. In order for society, in a technological age, to function efficiently its citizens must have a common language and education, insuring future citizens, workers, and employers are able to communicate and relate to each from a common base of knowledge and understanding.

To the extent that there are differing bases of knowledge and understanding, disagreements and debates arise, creating expensive and contentious inefficiencies in the social and organizational life of a nation. Conversely, to the degree that everyone holds the same knowledge and understanding, creativity and innovation can be stifled, and 'group think' in our organizations can result in seemingly incomprehensible and inappropriate decisions being made.

From the dawn of the human species, education served survival and provided the means to taking a position within the group for safety and security. That's the evolutionary perspective. From the creation of man and woman, education has served both the clan and the gods end of providing humans with a sense of god's purpose and human's place in the universe. That's the religious perspective.

They have in common, the view that education is to prepare children for their productive and inclusive role in society. To the extent that parents or schools fail to prepare children in this way, the society suffers the consequences of mal-adapted individuals who become sexual predators, thieves or extortionists, and murderers exacting inordinate costs and anxiety upon society.

In what is commonly and erroneously viewed as the traditional view of education in America, schools were to provide vocational oriented education, and parents, church, mosque, temple, or synagogue were to provide social values education. But, America's educational system has never been that clearly segregated, nor purist in reality. Government run schools for the children of American Indians were very much about teaching social values and conditioning. Vocational education for minorities were virtually non-existent in most parts of early colonial America. And American rural communities placed a far higher value in 'on the job' education on family farms than in rural schools.

America's educational system is in transition from the system that existed for an agrarian America to one arguably better suited to an information and technological America. And as with all systems in transition, marked failures and advances are evident. At the root of all education however, is the relationship between teacher and student, based on mutual respect, patience, and positive feedback.

Cruelty can modify behavior, but, it never achieves its intended objectives or lessons learned. Cruelty, negative reinforcement, and punishment teach the student only of the necessity and means to escape the cruelty, negative reinforcement, and punishment. This has been demonstrated time and again in laboratory experiments on learning. Positive reinforcement and respect motivate students to achieve the objectives of the teacher far better than negative reinforcement.

Herein lies the heart of the debate over American education. If children fail to receive adequate positive reinforcement and develop respect for role models and parents at home, they are very likely to have difficulties establishing that mutual respect relationship between student and teacher in our schools. Schools which attempt to address such needs in students with behavioral or trust issues, are often viewed, and rebuked, as usurping the relationship between parent and child at home.

Both parents and society at large have a vested, self-interested stake in the education of their children. Many parents view their children as an extension of themselves, with the potential of becoming more, and better than the parents with guidance around the pitfalls which the parents experienced. The pride of other parents is heavily invested in the reflection their child will direct back upon the parents in social settings, requiring their child reflect the image of the parent.

Schools and educators have their own security issues, financing and pay issues, and esteem issues vested in the education of their students, in addition to the overt objective of developing student's potentials for higher education or vocational roles in adulthood. Too often in America, parental and school objectives and investments in the student conflict, becoming a source of mistrust and non-interaction.

Wisdom dictates that parents and schools should be partners, working cooperatively with each other in a very open and active communication environment in which the best interests of the student are paramount. Despite parent - teacher associations (PTA's) in existence in virtually every school system in America, only a small percentage of parents are active members in PTA's, and schools, ever pressured to find funding for student development activities, rely ever more upon pressuring PTA's to cough up more money for extra-curricular activities. This in turn, alienates many parents with lesser income means from participating.

There are no easy answers to America's lackluster educational performance compared to other industrialized nations, 24th. A wise parent knows their involvement with their child's education is important, and making the time and energy available to take an active interest in their child's daily school activities and learning and applaud their child's efforts and learning will benefit their child.

The wise school district will focus like a laser on eliminating the obstacles they can that exist between student's parents and the administrators and teachers within the school, establishing open door policies, and providing incentives for parental involvement in communication with their child's teachers and school administrators.

Old habits however, die hard, the saying goes. And America's educational system is transitioning. If government and quasi-governmental agencies are to be prevented from having complete control of student's education quality and performance, then parents must resolve to get involved. And wise voters will pay particular attention to their school board elections, and vote for those whose objectives and agenda reflect first and foremost, the needs of students to fully develop their learning potential and expand their repertoire of personal and vocational skills and talents.

Below are some quotes from some historical figures who had something to say about education in their time.

Albert Einstein:
It is, in fact, nothing short of a miracle that the modern methods of instruction have not entirely strangled the holy curiosity of inquiry.

Alvin Toffler:
The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.

Anatole France:
Nine tenths of education is encouragement.

Ariel and Will Durant:
Education is the transmission of civilization.

Aristotle:
All who have meditated on the art of governing mankind have been convinced that the fate of empires depends on the education of youth.

Carl Rogers:
If we value independence, if we are disturbed by the growing conformity of knowledge, of values, of attitudes, which our present system induces, then we may wish to set up conditions of learning which make for uniqueness, for self-direction, and for self-initiated learning.

George Santayana:
A child educated only at school is an uneducated child.

George Santayana:
Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

Mark Twain:
First, God created idiots. That was just for practice. Then He created school boards.
...
Many public-school children seem to know only two dates--1492 and 4th of July; and as a rule they don't know what happened on either occasion.

Build Your Own Home?

2009-06-04T17:08:37Z

I have heard a number of people in my life talk about building their own home with their own hands. My Uncle Ted built his, mostly with his own hands, when I was very young. It became a dream of mine. A dream I fulfilled. I built my own home from the foundation to the roof and everything in between with my own hands, tools, and books. My advice to others, DO NOT DO IT ! Here's why.

View image

]]> There are better options. My house will never be finished. I have been working on it for 10 years and I will die and it still won't be what I want it to be when I die. The reason is that what I want it to be continues to change. Take careful note of this.

It is normal for folks to want to change their habitat several times over their lifetime. If you build your own home, you invest so much of your life and family in it, that you can't bear to part with it. Which leaves but one course of action. Constant modifications, additions, subtractions, and remodeling. It is easier to buy and sell a few houses in one's lifetime and enjoy each for its own characteristics, than it is to modify the same structure several times during one's lifetime.

If however, like me, you are stubbornly intent on building your own with your own hands, build small. Altering a small structure is vastly easier and less costly than altering a large structure. Build multiple connected small units. This makes future modifications, additions and subtractions, modular, easier, and far less costly. Take extra care however, with modular components on insulation. Modular units expose far more external wall and roof to the environment. Double recommended insulation on modular units and keep window spaces minimal if you live in cold Winter or hot Summer climes.

I love my home, and am content to die in it. If I had it to do over again, I would subcontract some of the more time consuming and heavy labor projects like foundations and slabs, and interior finishing. The greatest fun is in the designing and seeing that design become real. The actual construction, while it can and will provide many personal and psychological benefits in terms of skill building and discipline, is largely boring, repetitive, and very slow.

Side Notes: Build to code standards or above, even if your property lies in a jurisdiction that does not enforce building codes. Safety first has to be adhered to when building one's own home. The peace of mind falling to sleep in your owner built home knowing it is a safe home, is worth every penny and hour spent.

Don't build on credit cards. Save up the cash. An owner built home purchased on credit card interest can cost double what a mortgaged or builder loan subcontractor built home might cost, after all that high interest has been paid. Some folks I hear have paid a general contractor a few hundred dollars to come out a few times and inspect the critical work you are doing, and sign off on your construction when finished. Not sure of the legality of this procedure, but, it does permit one to obtain a builder's loan, and insurance, while the home is under construction.

Build a small living structure to live in while building your main home (great practice) , or live in a trailer on your property. Then convert the small structure to a guest building when you move into your home. Build a separate workshop to house your machines and tools and protect them, and you, from the elements while the house is under construction. Consider making this your permanent garage after your home is built.

Whether building in hot or cold climates, consider building an earth bermed house. The energy and maintenance cost savings will be monumental. Provide area for vehicles to pull in and turn around, and for material deliveries to be dropped off, out of the way.

Also, try orient the longest side of the House to the South. This maximizes heat gain from the Winter sun in the winter months, reducing heating bills. It also positions the shorter walls to the East and West which gain less Sun heat in the Summer in the mornings and evenings. Consider generous roof overhangs in hot climates to block rising and setting sun from entering through windows.

Maximize storage space under stairs with drawers,cabinets, or closet. Consider adding deep storage above kitchen cabinets, and provide for a closet or clothes hanging area off your bathroom, or create and adjacent laundry room. Definitely install a passive solar water heater on your roof if building in Southern climates. They aren't very expensive anymore, and will reap solid savings in water heating bills in just a few years.

Plan your landscaping before building, to insure that you can maximize tree shade and wind breaks to protect your house, without compromising your underground utilities, septic tank, or leach field. Water is becoming scarce in many areas. Consider planning on capturing rain water from your roofs to use for landscape watering. Even if you have a well for water, it takes electricity to pump that water out of your aquifer, and rain water is free.

One day, you actually do get to move in as these photos below show.

With a sense of Pride.

Want a Voice? Get Political.

2009-06-03T17:05:25Z

When one talks of groups in politics, political parties immediately come to mind. But, America's two dominant political parties are themselves made up of various smaller groups, competing to become the dominant voices in their party, often in a highly competitive manner. However, in America, with the advent of the internet, politically focused groups are growing in number at an unprecedented rate, like Moveon.Org and GOPUSA. And with these groups come the bane of American politics, lobbyists.

]]> First a note about why groups are so powerful in a democratic society. Those in power to make decisions for the society, culture, and government, seek to retain their positions of power. If power wasn't important to them, they wouldn't be in that position in the first place. Hence, if a group's voice is sufficiently loud enough to threaten the removal of a person from power, that person in power will very likely find a way to yield to that group's interest and agenda.

There is an entire branch of mathematics now created to model groups seeking voice in policy. It is called network modeling. And it is taking the democratic world by storm. If having a voice in this world is important to you, you must develop an interest in network modeling. An example will prove the point.

A woman in a remote Kenyan village has a cousin who needs to get a letter off to a person in London who may help him, gratis, with his case with the Kenyan government. The cousin offers the woman his next new born calf if she can get this letter off to London.

In their village, there is no internet, no phones, no courier service, no FedEx or UPS. The woman spends the next week visiting everyone she knows in and around the village asking if they know someone who is leaving the village to a town or city in the next week or so. They all say no.

The woman returns the letter to her cousin with apologies, saying she can't find anyone who knows how to get this letter out of the village. At that moment, the woman's Aunt who lives in Nairobi, drives up to visit overnight. The Aunt agrees to drop the letter off at the FedEx store in Nairobi when she returns. The day is saved for the woman who gets the calf, the cousin who gets his letter off to the London barrister, and the Aunt who just dropped in to visit and see if there was anything she could do to help her niece. (Inspired by a TV program on networking).

Communication opens doors, creates opportunities, and makes things happen. In politics, communication between groups of people with a common interest, allowing them to organize and speak with one voice, or obstruct the goals and intentions of those in power, can alter the course of social, cultural, and governmental policy.

So, what group should you join? What are your interests for social, cultural, or governmental change? There is likely a group already in place waiting to welcome your voice and support toward effecting that change. As an individual without great wealth, your voice has no volume, and will not be heard over the din of others. Your choice is simple, become a billionaire, join a group, or, resign yourself to having no influence whatsoever over the direction of social, cultural, or governmental affairs.

A note about wealth. Wealthy persons are capable of funding group's outreach programs to recruit volunteers, supporters, voters, and membership rolls. Wealth is an incredibly potent force in the formation of groups and agendas pursued in our society and government. It is impossible to avoid stating the obvious here regarding policy voice; wealthy persons fund candidates to offices of power where the agenda of the wealthy donors will be represented and fostered in social, cultural, and governmental policy making. The non-wealthy can pool contributions to create a competitive influence against the wealthy. The non-wealthy often fail to recognize the importance of their small $5 potential contribution in this way.

Below is a sample list of web sites where one can begin their search for a group to join. Do a little homework: Find and join a group which can amplify your voice making it heard.

Open Secrets

Wikipedia PACs

Google's Advocacy Groups

American Citizen

And of course, my there is my favorite non-partisan political group, Vote Out Incumbents Democracy, or VOID.

So, what groups have you joined or supported with dollars?

Living Owl's Founder

2009-06-03T10:38:43Z

David R. Remer founded the Living Owl concept and web site, to reflect and offer the wise lessons of his life, and those of others to the general public living in America, and elsewhere, if the shoe fits.

]]> Remer quit high school in the 10th grade (1965) and went to work in stage theater as an actor and construction crew member. Coming out of a hippy hitch-hiking wanderlust phase In 1972, he enlisted in the U.S. Army where he served 3 & 1/2 years trained as a combat medic and psychiatric technician.

Upon leaving the Army in 1975, Remer used the GI Bill to graduate from the Univ. Of Texas at San Antonio, having majored in psychology and studying philosophy. He worked as a counselor for federal prisoners in a halfway house program, as a psychiatric technician at an adolescent hospital, and gymnastic coach.

After graduation in 1981 he moved to Kansas City, Mo. where he worked as the managing director of Avila College's Performing Arts and Communications department. After getting married, he moved back to San Antonio, Texas in 1984 to later work as an insurance claims adjuster for 5 years until his daughter was born.

Remer then became a house Dad raising his daughter. While raising his daughter as the wife brought home the bigger share of the bacon, they bought 5 acres of land and Remer built their own home with his own hands and tools by day. And by night, got into the online Bulletin Board Service industry, which preceded the public internet. He is a self-taught VB programmer, web site designer and developer. Remer has been the managing editor and a writer, since the end of 2003, for the political debate web site known as WatchBlog, founded by Cameron Barrett.

In 2006, Remer founded the national political action committee, Vote Out Incumbents for Democracy, and currently serves as its president. His new internet projects include this Living Owl web site and PoliWatch, a political essay site for up and coming political analysts, writers, bloggers, and activists.

Why Living Owl?

2009-06-01T17:01:46Z

A Living Owl is wiser than a dead one. Mythology holds that owls are wise. In short, this organization is dedicated to wisdom in our everyday lives. Hence, the name, Living Owl.

]]> This Living Owl web site aspires to become an organization to provide wise living practices, useful tips, and information garnered from many sources, including stories of lessons learned both the hard and wise way. (I am David Remer by the way, this web site's creator. Nice to meet you.) Another Living Owl objective is for this site to become a community of wise persons all contributing and sharing their wisdom for each other's benefit.

We will include practical and wise information on all manner of actions and interactions we Americans engage in during our daily lives. Tips on buying a car, a home, investing, education, psychology, dealing with health care professionals, vacation ideas, and a host of other topics which folks find should find useful and helpful, are too often not employed. The Living Owl seeks to inspire ourselves and others to understand why we should employ such tips and ideas as the wise thing to do.

So, if you are a wise person, capable of leaving partisan politics and religious preaching at the door, you are welcome to share your information, tips, and wisdom for quality living in America on our Living Owl Community pages. The Living Owl Community pages are reserved for L.O. visitor's participation.

These pages at Living Owl offer a starting research point for interested persons in wise living, and for potential contributors to work from in developing their own pearls of wisdom to publish on the Living Owl Community pages.

Wisdom learns from failure: our own and history's, then acts accordingly.